Conflicts of interestTransparency

Dutch ministry took over two years to release documents showing ex-minister Sander Dekker's close contacts with the gambling industry while drafting online-gambling legislation

Confidence: Confirmed · 3 sourcesNetherlands · Sep 22, 2026

Subject of this story

Sander Dekker, Minister for Legal Protection (2017–2022)

Ministry of Justice and Security (Netherlands)

Also named

Advocate

Mirjam Bikker, Member of the Dutch House of Representatives (ChristenUnie)

Michiel van Nispen, Member of the Dutch House of Representatives (SP)

What happened

The Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security published nearly 1,900 documents on 5 December 2025 detailing communications between the ministry and the gambling industry during development of the Remote Gambling Act (Wet Kansspelen op Afstand) — more than two years after parliamentarians Mirjam Bikker and Michiel van Nispen first raised questions, and after a commitment to disclosure made in July 2023. The documents, reported by NRC, show then-Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker exchanged frequent informal messages with gambling-industry lobbyists, including advising an industry association chairman on lobbying strategy, while paying limited attention to warnings about gambling-advertising risks.

Sources (3)

SourceActieve openbaarmaking documenten Wet Koa n.a.v. toezegging aan de leden Bikker en Van Nispen van 11 juli 2023.

CasinoNieuws.nlVoormalig minister Dekker had nauw contact met goksector rondom legalisering, blijkt uit vrijgegeven documenten.

PlaySenseIntensief contact tussen minister Dekker en goksector tijdens legalisering.

Response

Sander Dekker

Statement given

Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.

Ministry of Justice and Security (Netherlands)

Not yet contacted

Not yet contacted for this story.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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